Latching or Breastfeeding Issues
Our team at The Backbone Osteopathy clinics Southgate and Muswell Hill work closely with local lactation consultants to help support new mums and babies overcome latching or breastfeeding issues.
What causes Latching or Breastfeeding issues?
There can be various reasons as to why babies struggle with latching or breastfeeding. A few of the common reasons we see at The Backbone Clinics Southgate and Muswell Hill are:
- Cranial dysfunctions and restrictions in the skull: Traumatic and challenging traumatic/ challenging deliveries such as ventouse/ forceps or being stuck in the birth canal for a prolonged period may result in cranial dysfunctions and restrictions in the skull sutures from. Misalignment of the skull may create tension in the palate, jaw, tongue facial muscles which may then create latching or breastfeeding issues.
- Neck tightness or Torticollis: Learn more about torticollis and neck tightness in babies.
- Jaw restriction: Click here to learn more...
- Tongue tie and or a high palate: Click here to learn more about tongue tie…
- Weak tongue muscle and/or muscular compensation following a tongue tie.
Here are a few signs that your baby maybe experiencing Latching or Breastfeeding Issues:
- Baby loses latch (lets go of nipple) regularly during the feeding.
- Baby resists or pushes away when trying to latch them latch-on.
- Baby sucks in cheeks when trying to suck.
- Baby sounds like is taking in lots of air (makes a lot of clicking or smacking noises as they try to suck).
- Baby falls asleep within five minutes of latch-on or after feeding for less than 5mins.
- Baby doesn't suck regularly for the initial 7- 10mins of a feeding.
- Breastfeeding causes sore or cracked nipples.
- Baby is still hungry after feed.
- Baby gets very windy after feed. (see also Digestive issues).
How can Osteopathy help with Latching or Breastfeeding issues?
Using a combination of Cranial Osteopathy, Visceral and Structural Osteopathy our team of Paediatric Osteopaths aim to resolve latching or breastfeeding issues by improving the babies mouth and jaw mechanics as well as balancing and improving neural and connective tissue function to ensure a new and better functional muscular feeding pattern can develop.
We are very aware that issues with babies latch or breastfeeding does not just affect the baby/ child. Our team of Womens health trained Osteopaths can also assist breast feeding mums who are experiencing milk supply issues, engorgement and mastitis.
At The Backbone Osteopathy Clinics Southgate & Muswell Hill, we offer…
- Pregnancy packages, for check-ups throughout your pregnancy
- A Mother-Baby package.
For more information and advice on conditions related to Osteopathy for babies please click here…
The Backbone Osteopathy Clinics Southgate & Muswell Hill team will always ensure that patients seek appropriate medical advice and treatment for themselves, their babies and children alongside any osteopathic treatment.
We will refer patients back to their GP if a problem is not suitable for Osteopathic treatment.
